Godolphin hot run continues as Saba Desert denies odds-on Italy in Superlative despite fly-jumping out of the gates

Saba Desert overcame an awkward jump when leaving the stalls to continue William Buick and Charlie Appleby's fine record in the Group 2 bet365 Superlative Stakes.

In a messy race where four runners still held a chance inside the final furlong, Saba Desert produced a strong turn of foot to make it two from two and deny odds-on favourite Italy.

Appleby, who won this race previously with subsequent Group 1 winners Quorto and Native Trail, was unconcerned about the son of Dubawi's acrobatics at the start, instead pointing out his usually relaxed temperament.

Asked whether he was his best juvenile colt at this stage of the season, Appleby said: "He’s up there for sure. This is a horse we’ve liked from day one. He’s a deep-girthed horse and the thing about him is he’s horizontally laid back. 

Saba Desert (second from left) did not make a clean getaway from the stalls

"What he showed in the gates there, he hasn’t done that [before] but that can often happen on their second start, when they’re a little bit more clued in and sometimes they can be a bit more toey in the gate."

Saba Desert was cut by Coral to 16-1 (from 33) for next season's Betfred 2,000 Guineas, while Italy was pushed out to 12-1 (from 8s) by the same firm.

Thunder delivers

The fancied horse of the three-day meeting duly obliged in the bet365 Bunbury Cup but only just as More Thunder defied an unfavourable draw to score by a nose from last year's winner Aalto.

Tom Marquand and William Haggas were gaining compensation for an unlucky defeat in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot last month, when the jockey got his whip entangled in his reins at a vital time.

More Thunder flashed home on the near side to claim the narrowest of winsCredit: Edward Whitaker

As the first two races had gone to horses housed close to the stands' rail in stall one, Marquand rode for luck from stall 13 by dropping his mount out and, fortunately for favourite backers, got a dream run up the rail.

The 6-5 chance was the shortest-priced winner of the traditionally competitive contest since Kintore obliged at 5-2 in 1977.

Haggas said: "We got compensation for Ascot when Tom was disgusted with his ride, when his whip got caught, but he's a professional," said Haggas. "He had to come to the stands' side after what happened earlier and he was lucky they stayed off the rail. We'll look at a stakes races next and Tom is keen to go six furlongs. The key is a fast gallop. They didn't go fast and then went three furlongs out, which is why he came late."

Belting hot 

This venue is particularly helpful for the two-year-old races and one who reaped the benefit was Orion's Belt, who ran away with the opening 7f fillies' maiden under Ryan Moore.

In contrast to some of her rivals, Richard Hannon's filly walked around under the trees as cool as a glass of Pimm's and also in the race where she did not see another rival before obliging by three and three-quarter lengths as 15-8 market leader.

There was no sign of the juvenile's part-owner, Brighton striker Georginio Rutter, but the daughter of Starman still hit the back of the net in style and was cut to 20-1 (from 50-1) for next month's Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York by Paddy Power.

Hannon's head lad Tony Gorman said: "We've always thought she was a nice filly and fancied her first time at Salisbury. She's stepped forward from that and enjoyed the extra furlong today. I'd say she has Group potential and there would be no reason why she could not drop back for something like the Lowther."

On the July course in general, he said: "This track is like no other with the pre-parade in total shade which is ideal in these conditions and she didn't turn a hair."

Royal Velvet (William Buick) wins the 7f fillies' handicap in front of packed standsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Buick in cruise control

Buick had yet more success at the July festival when Royal Velvet secured another win at Newmarket in the 7f fillies' handicap.

Winning trainer William Knight is hopeful his four-year-old can get some black type next to her name before the season is out after she ran down Havana Pusey.

Knight said: "I'm delighted for her owner-breeder Susie Hartley. Going back to seven furlongs from a mile has been the right decision and having William on board always helps, particularly at this track."

Murphy collects

Champion jockey and this year's title leader Oisin Murphy rode his first winner since he pled guilty to a drink driving charge last week when striking on Claymore in the 1m4f handicap. He had gone 33 rides without winning before the six-year-old's success.

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